A recent update to life simulator Disney Dreamlight Valley added new characters, quests, and Halloween-themed items to the game. However, the update also featured an unpopular change: the addition of an unpleasant “exhaustion effect” when players ran out of energy. Player complaints were heard, and the effect is slated to be removed in an upcoming hotfix. With Disney Dreamlight Valley developer Gameloft showing their willingness to listen to fans, the removal of the exhaustion effect could be the first in several highly requested quality-of-life improvements.
Disney Dreamlight Valley utilizes an “energy” system, with activities such as mining, planting crops, and fishing steadily draining the player’s energy bar. Once a player runs out of energy, they need to either eat food or return to their house to refill the meter. The new exhaustion effect was meant as a visual indicator warning players that they were nearly out of energy. However, the effect, which featured flashing red lights and an abrupt switch to grayscale, was found to be grating and unpleasant by players. The effect currently persists for several seconds, forcing some players to stop mid-task while waiting for the flashing lights to end. Developer Gameloft released a statement that the exhaustion effect would be removed soon, leading players to hope that other quality-of-life improvements might be on the horizon.
Text is Too Small on Nintendo Switch
While Disney Dreamlight Valley has received praise for its quality-of-life improvements compared to other simulation titles such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons, fans still have several complaints. In particular, Nintendo Switch users have found the experience frustrating, as the game – still in Early Access – crashes frequently and includes a number of bugs. Characters will get “stuck” inside their own houses or appear randomly inside the player’s. Internet connectivity was limited as servers were flooded after the most recent update. Switch players have also noted that the game’s text is far too small, making it difficult to read character dialogue and item descriptions. This issue is particularly noteworthy when playing in handheld mode, due to the Nintendo Switch’s already small screen compared to PCs and other consoles.
The small text caused frustration when players attempted to complete “Nature and Nurture,” a quest added in Dreamlight Valley’s new “Scar’s Kingdom” update. One step of the quest involves cooking a unique recipe called Extra Fizzy Root Beer, which requires a specific piece of Ginger acquired during the quest. Many players have failed to read that the special Ginger is needed and have found themselves stuck unable to complete the new story quest. Other previous quests caused similar frustration, including catching a Glittering Herring for Elsa or building a Clock for Minnie Mouse.
Some Characters’ Behavior is Unnerving
In general, players have enjoyed being able to interact with a variety of popular Disney characters such as Moana, Elsa, Donald Duck, and more. However, a few characters have received criticism from the fans for their bizarre and even creepy in-game behavior. In particular, players dislike Mickey Mouse’s habit of standing too close to the player and the many loud noises Goofy makes throughout the game. Ursula’s behavior patterns are frustrating, as she randomly teleports between bodies of water with no set schedule. Donald Duck’s loud, frequent temper tantrums are also unpopular; Gameloft claimed in the recent update that the length of his outbursts would be shortened, but players do not feel the improvement is enough.
Many feel that Dreamlight Valley is also lacking in accessibility options, particularly for photosensitive players. The game often features flashing lights during in-game thunderstorms and includes a number of loud noises when performing daily tasks or leveling up. The screen will also sometimes shake when major events occur, such as the reveal of Scar’s arrival during the latest update. Gameloft’s announcement regarding the removal of the exhaustion effect stated that a future hotfix would include a toggle to disable these flashing lights as well as screen shake effects. Hopefully, this update will make it easier and more comfortable for all Disney Dreamlight Valley players.
Item Drop Rates are Frustratingly Low
Despite still being in early access, Disney Dreamlight Valley offers quite a lot for players to do. In addition to the main story, each character has a series of friendship quests that can be completed. Activities to do in each of the Valley’s various biomes include mining, fishing, planting and harvesting crops, and cooking delicious meals to share with other Valley residents. However, players have expressed frustration that some of these quests and tasks are difficult to complete due to the extremely low drop rate of several items. Items frequently cited as appearing too rarely include Iron Ore, Clay, most types of Minerals and Shiny Minerals, and the newly added Rich Soil.
Other smaller bug fixes and changes will hopefully be added in future updates. Currently, characters are able to request items not yet added to the game as Gifts, making it difficult to increase their friendship levels. Decorating the Valley and the player’s house can be frustrating with many furniture items unable to be properly centered. Additionally, some items such as dressers or doors are currently decorative only, rather than actually being able to store items or connect two rooms. Players would also love the opportunity to be able to purchase or otherwise obtain friends’ custom clothing creations, such as elaborately decorated dresses or outfits themed around Pikachu from Pokemon.
It is not currently known when the hotfix will be implemented to remove the exhaustion effect from Dreamlight Valley, but players hope it will be soon. Other updates coming to the game in the future include the addition of Toy Story characters and new limited-time Star Path events featuring seasonal quests and rewards. It is definitely possible that the quality of life changes suggested above could also be implemented in the future.
Disney Dreamlight Valley is currently available in early access for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
